Muffled sounds rang in Adrian’s ears. A hard surface was pressed against his left cheek. His palms connected with gritty wetness. Dirt and stone. He had to be on the ground for he sure as hell wasn’t standing.
Something large and firm settled over his shoulder. “Croft?”
He squinted across the cobblestones now at eye-level. Someone shook him. The voice came again. “Over here.”
His body was pushed on its side and then he was rolling onto his back. He blinked up at the man bowing over him. “Kendrick?”
“Christ, man.” Kendrick blew out a rough breath and shook his head. “I feared you’d been killed.”
“Merciful heavens,” another man muttered, the familiar sound making Adrian look to his right. At Edward who’d dropped to his knees beside him. “Are you all right? Anything broken or—”
“I don’t think so.” Adrian tested the movement in his fingers and toes, then in his arms and legs. Everything ached, but no part was screaming in pain. “Help me sit, will you.”
Two pairs of strong hands supported his weight while pushing him upright. He rotated his head, then massaged a sore spot at the back of his neck before assessing his surroundings. Rubble was piled around him with several buildings completely leveled.
Fractured wood beams were scattered about. Along with bricks, glass, and roofing. Groans coming from somewhere nearby drew his attention.
“How is everyone else faring?”
“I counted one death while searching for you,” Kendrick said. “No idea who he is so you’ll have to identify him yourself. I’m sorry.”
Adrian hung his head. Nothing had gone as expected. He wondered if this had been O’Leary’s plan all along, in which case…
“Samantha.” He pushed himself off the ground, ignoring the way his ankle protested. A nuisance he’d deal with later.
“Adrian, wait.” Edward’s voice warned him to be careful. “You’re in no condition to take on a rescue mission right now.”
“Try and stop me,” Adrian rasped. He managed to find his balance.
“Kendrick and I can go after her in your stead,” Edward said. “You need to—”
“No.” Adrian rounded on Edward, the last few hours returning to him in full force. “I wouldn’t even trust you to save yourself, so I have no intention of putting her life in your hands.”
Pain slackened Edward’s features. Hurt pierced his gaze. Then he nodded and took a step back. “Fine.”
A hand caught his arm and Adrian turned, his gaze colliding with Kendrick’s.
“He makes a good point,” the chief constable murmured. “I believe you were knocked unconscious in the blast. You ought to be resting, not heading for battle.”
Adrian gave the man the courtesy of considering his words for a split second, then pulled his arm free and began climbing over the rubble. His ankle howled in pain but he shoved the discomfort aside. He would not succumb to the inconvenient ache when there was a chance Samantha was faring much worse.
It was imperative that he find her.
The possibility of not doing so didn’t cross his mind once. Success was the only option. So he limped his way into what remained of the building he’d been approaching earlier, then up some partially broken stairs. Ignoring the whimpering people who huddled against one corner, he stared out across the two alleyways he could see.
Destruction stretched through the darkness, surrounding one building that still remained standing. Adrian swallowed. That had to be O’Leary’s headquarter.
It wasn’t too far. He could probably get there within five minutes.
A movement next to the building caused him to pause. He stared at the people who emerged — three men, it seemed. One of them swept his gaze in Adrian’s direction, and Adrian’s heart stilled. Although he’d never laid eyes on O’Leary before, there was no doubt in his mind this was he. Despite the darkness obscuring his features, the arrogant gleam in his eyes left no doubt.
Had there been even the slightest uncertainty, it vanished when the man lifted his hand and tipped the brim of his hat in Adrian’s direction. He spun on his heels in the next instant and started striding away. His companions followed.
Adrian reached for his pistols. Except they weren’t in his pockets. He’d been holding them when the blast happened, so he’d probably dropped them and now…
“Kendrick!” O’Leary was getting farther away. Soon he’d be swallowed by night. Adrian looked toward the chief constable. “I need a pistol.”
But it wasn’t Kendrick who bounded toward him. It was Edward. The earl offered his weapon and Adrian grasped it, turned, and fired toward the spot where O’Leary had been a split second before.
